Continued Hunger Strike in Protest Against Illegal Arrests and Harsh Prison Conditions; Two Detained Teachers on Hunger Strike

As pressure increases on prisoners, especially political prisoners and imprisoned teachers, several of these individuals have gone on hunger strike in recent days. The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Unions announced on Friday, May 11, that Farzad Safi-Khanpour has gone on hunger strike in protest against his illegal detention and that of Atekeh Rajabi due to her transfer to solitary confinement. According to this trade union, Farzad Safi-Khanpour was violently arrested on May 8 during a gathering called by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Unions in Sanandaj and was transferred to an unknown location. Additionally, Ms. Atekeh Rajabi left her home on May 8 to participate in the teachers' gathering and was reportedly arrested in front of the Education Department of Razavi Khorasan Province and transferred to an unknown location. The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Unions reported that on the same day, security forces raided Atekeh Rajabi's home, searched the house, and arrested her sister, Arzu Rajabi, who was released after several hours. Atekeh Rajabi stated in a phone call that she is in solitary confinement and has been on a dry hunger strike since the day of her arrest in protest against this 'illegal' action. Meanwhile, the Teachers' Union of Gilan announced that three imprisoned teachers in Lakan Prison in Rasht have been banned from visits and communication. According to this union, Mr. Anoush Adeli, Aziz Qasemzadeh, and Mahmoud Sedighi-Pour, members of the board of this organization, who have been imprisoned in Lakan Prison since April 6 to serve a one-year sentence, have been deprived of phone calls and family visits since May 1. The ongoing security crackdown on educators continues; four teachers have been arrested, and 11 others have been summoned. 'Imprisoned teachers must be freed' was the slogan of teachers during the May 8 gathering in Rasht. Some teachers have been deprived of ranking under the pretext of participating in protests. The situation of those detained remains unclear. Teachers' gatherings have taken place in 22 cities; workers of the Kerman Railway and employees of Behesht Zahra have gone on strike. Several individuals were arrested during teachers' gatherings; 11 teachers have been summoned to the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Khuzestan. Some detained teachers and labor activists have been released on heavy bails.